Listen to the world's decision on Palestine

The UN has voted to recognise the right of Palestinians to statehood; it's time Israel and the United States fell into line with that viewpoint

The United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly last week to recognise Palestinian statehood and grant it non-member status. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas returned from New York to the West Bank city of Ramallah, where he was greeted by thousands of cheering supporters celebrating their new acceptance at the United Nations.

The UN has endorsed an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, territories Israel captured in the 1967 war.

A day after the UN decision, Israel announced that it would cut off cash transfers to the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority. There was also an announcement that thousands of new homes will be built in Jewish settlements in the occupied territories east of Jerusalem.

In spite of the Israeli announcement, nothing was going to dampen Palestinian joy. The fact that the world had spoken out on their behalf was reason enough for celebration.

In real terms, no one yet knows what this new recognition means or, specifically, what diplomatic or political actions President Abbas will take with this newfound status. One imagines that Abbas will now look for ways to regain some of the occupied territory and/or to work towards a fair and peaceful agreement with Israel.

The Israeli elections are just weeks away and the outcome of the polls could give some indication as to how future negotiations will unfold. Moreover, it is hoped that there will be new and fresh ideas coming from Washington as President Barack Obama puts together his team for his second term in the White House.

The UN vote was more or less an endorsement of the Palestinian position and a condemnation of expanding Jewish settlements in territories claimed by the Palestinians.

Successive Israeli prime ministers have consistently rejected a return to Israel's pre-1967 border, and the upcoming elections won't change that attitude. Israel continues to maintain a blockade of Gaza, from which it withdrew seven years ago. It controls parts of the West Bank and has declared all of Jerusalem its political capital. The Palestinians, on the other hand, are hoping to make East Jerusalem their capital.

With the US on its side, Israel has come out strongly against the vote for Palestinian statehood at this juncture. Israel accuses the Palestinians of trying to bypass direct peace negotiations and insists that this unilateral route is not a viable path to lasting peace or a full Palestinian state.

Even the response from some of Israel's closest allies - Germany, Italy, France and Britain - who either abstained or voted in favour of the Palestinians - was loud and clear. But Israel didn't take their diplomatic decisions with humility. Instead it took a defiant tone and immediately made the announcements about more settlement construction.

So what is the big deal about building in this area known as E1? After all, Israel has been building settlements in Palestinian territory for decades. Essentially, building in the E1 area would sever the link between the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the sector of the city the Palestinians want for their future capital.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was quoted as saying the new phase of building "would represent an almost fatal blow to remaining chances for securing a two-state solution".

"In the interests of peace, any plans for E1 must be rescinded," Ban added.

Interestingly, the US, along with Britain, France and other European states, denounced the Israeli plan. It's not exactly rocket science. But if America still thinks it has the moral authority to dictate to the world, it needs to go beyond "denouncing" such plans and really begin pressuring Israel to make concessions.

If Washington is waiting for Israel to develop a conscience, then the Americans need to think again. After all, this is a country that has no qualms about taking other people's land.

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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2012/12/08/listen-to-the-worlds-decision-on-palestine/